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[analog_future]

I casually ordered mine when they became available and it arrived less than a week later.

I had absolutely no idea how lucky I was, but god damn.


It's worth the wait. I'll say that much.

 

[LordOcidax]

Yeah but where is the Steam Machine?!?!?

They are having issues with the controller and…
You are asking for the console???

 

[Walliwallipaloo]

It was an ergonomics issue. Despite (or maybe even because of) having big hands (~20cm), having index on R1, middle on R4 and ring on R5 caused too much strain because of the stretch I was having to do to between index and middle.

It's a huge shame, because I loved quite literally everything else about the controller. Very well made. Quiet shoulder buttons. I was looking forward to finding uses for the grip force. Touch pads were huge improvements over the original SC by using haptics to simulate clicks instead of the loud "clunk" of the original. Back buttons themselves felt great, too, with just the right amount of pressure needed to press to avoid accidental presses. It fixed everything I felt was wrong about the original SC.

If I thought I was going to use it enough in games that didn't have heavy R1 use but instead more touch pad for example, I'd have kept it. But I wanted it to be a primary controller for all situations, and for me it can't be that.

When I noticed the strain issue I went back to my 8bitdo Ultimate 2, which puts R4 next to R1/R2 instead. I rest my ring finger on the grip button differently (pressing more with the middle segment of the finger), and the strain issue went away immediately. Went back to SC again to see if it was just something to get over because it was new, but it happened again. Didn't want to waste £85 on something that caused me pain, so I accepted the disappointing truth.

For anyone that wants to visualise/feel what I mean, prime your hand to grip with the first 3 fingers holding a controller but placed on buttons. Notice the natural position each finger takes, with them not splaying much. Now spread the index apart from the others as much as you can and imagine repeated use of it in that position. It's not comfy. Ergonomically speaking, if you're going to encourage that I think the controller needs to be reshaped to encourage the natural position of the fingers.

This may be something that doesn't affect most people, and I don't want to discourage people based on my experience as I'm likely an outlier.

Personally, I'm now sticking to controllers with R4 up top. It's such a convenient placement (when done right) and allows for much more natural play control schemes. I consider that a stroke of genius, and a real "Why didn't anyone think of that before?" idea.

Okay. Well, I guess since I prefer the Duke, I guess that means I won't like the SC. And, honestly, seeing "get f'ked, you'll get yours sometime in 2027" means I'll just stick with my PS5 controller. It works just fine (most of the time).

 

[Dorfdad]

Ooooh, can't wait to get an RDNA3 PC in fucking 2028 with 8 gb of VRAM

Anyway I put my reservation in 5 days after preorders went up and I've got 2027 delivery

Why has everything about this timeline just gotten worse for like the last decade?

Absolutely disgusting and unprofessional

 

[hinch7]

December le sigh. Man, I reserved mine around the same time as well :/

I guess with the third batch they can iron out any issues.. but ehhh at taking a few to several months to make and ship some controllers.

 

[dolabla]

I was undecided if I wanted it, but went ahead and decided to join the reservation list earlier this week. Mine now says 2027, lol. Bought the Pico 2W and will make a DualSense dongle in the meantime.

 

[Sorcerer]

Strange that with this backlog order disaster they are allowing people to reserve a second or maybe third one. Seems a bit too soon. I do wonder if second and third orders get kicked to the back of the line?

 

[OverHeat]

Gave the controller to the wife…my Razer wolverine 8k is better overall.

 

[analog_future]

Gave the controller to the wife…my Razer wolverine 8k is better overall.

I'd have to disagree with that. Wolverine 8k is a good controller though. #3 behind Steam Controller and standard Razer Wolverine V3 Pro.

 

[Dr Bass]

I casually ordered mine when they became available and it arrived less than a week later.

I had absolutely no idea how lucky I was, but god damn.


It's worth the wait. I'll say that much.

I'm in the same boat. And now it's sitting in the closet waiting for a Steam Machine I may or may not buy.

 

[DarkShadowXI]

Strange that with this backlog order disaster they are allowing people to reserve a second or maybe third one. Seems a bit too soon. I do wonder if second and third orders get kicked to the back of the line?

I reserved my second one just now. Can't wait to order it from my retirement home!

 

[Bitstream]

I'd have to disagree with that. Wolverine 8k is a good controller though. #3 behind Steam Controller and standard Razer Wolverine V3 Pro.

No gyro on the Razer controllers makes the Dualsense a better option for me. Still want to try the steam controller, but I don't know that I care to hold on to hopes of getting it sometime next year if I start the process today. If valve can get their shit together at some point I guess I'll see.

 

[Durin]

Controller has been great in my experience, but hoping they can ramp up production based on reservations, and improve these estimated windows over time so everyone can get their stuff before the end of the year.

Strange that with this backlog order disaster they are allowing people to reserve a second or maybe third one. Seems a bit too soon. I do wonder if second and third orders get kicked to the back of the line?

Guarantee they do, because yesterday on the Steam Controller screen they didn't even let me reserve a 2nd controller if I even wanted to. Now I see the option today, so I'd assume I'd be back of the line (as I should be).

I've had mine for a while now, and it's awesome, I love it with the steam deck, but what in the hell is with Valve? They're a massive company, how the hell do they fuck up this stuff so, so badly. They're horrible at every part of the process. Ordering is a mess, delivery is a mess, never enough stock. They never seem to learn. 2027 is insane. They've probably sold, what? A few hundred thousand controllers at most and now we've got a backlog into 2027?

They're only large in revenue, the actual employee count of Valve is like 300ish, and they still lack the mass manufacturing infrastructure of every other platform holder selling hardware in the industry. They're not scaling that production as quickly as they're improving interest in their products, and lack the same consistent track-record of selling hardware to probably get the same deals on volume.

 

[AJUMP23]

At least they let you know.

I did not order one.

 

[Last Hearth]

Controller has been great in my experience, but hoping they can ramp up production based on reservations, and improve these estimated windows over time so everyone can get their stuff before the end of the year.


Guarantee they do, because yesterday on the Steam Controller screen they didn't even let me reserve a 2nd controller if I even wanted to. Now I see the option today, so I'd assume I'd be back of the line (as I should be).


They're only large in revenue, the actual employee count of Valve is like 300ish, and they still lack the mass manufacturing infrastructure of every other platform holder selling hardware in the industry. They're not scaling that production as quickly as they're improving interest in their products, and lack the same consistent track-record of selling hardware to probably get the same deals on volume.

I think Valve is content to be offering a boutique product, and are not trying to become a big player in the hardware space. Which would require the amount of capital investment that Gabe isn't interested in making, the only real way to do that would be to raise capital by leveraging the company, or by going public, and doing either would possibly threaten to change Valve fundamentally and affect their core business.

 

[Griffon]

Honestly I'm fine with TMR 8bitdo controllers, half the price and actually available.

I might still get a Steam Controller, but no rush.

 

[Durin]

I think Valve is content to be offering a boutique product, and are not trying to become a big player in the hardware space. Which would require the amount of capital investment that Gabe isn't interested in making, the only real way to do that would be to raise capital by leveraging the company, or by going public, and doing either would possibly threaten to change Valve fundamentally and affect their core business.

I think they are content to be boutique as well, but like Steam if people keep showing interest they'll grow it slowly over time like they did with Steam for years before becoming the behemoth it is.

Throwing out huge wads of investment just to jumpstart it faster is indeed likely something they don't want to happen, especially given the economics right now, and I don't think Gabe ever wants the company to go public.